Digging Up Ed Gein: Our Expedition into the Dark History of Plainfield, WI

Our latest trip to Plainfield to uncover the deranged history of Ed Gein lead us into the heart of Wisconsin’s dark side…and yielded some great photos.

Last weekend Christina and I embarked on our latest pilgrimage to Plainfield to dig up Ed Gein. I mean, we weren’t actually digging up any bodies, but we did intend to exhume some disturbing pieces of local history for an upcoming feature here on Cult of Weird.

Besides, our last visit to Gein’s old stomping ground was in 2012, so we were long overdue.

The goal this time around was to capture all the locations significant to the area’s grisly past in photo and video, to document the passing of time. As I’ve mentioned in previous writings about Ed Gein, it’s a dark fairy tale many of us grow up with here – it is ingrained in our collective consciousness. The stories of Gein’s grave robbing, murders and macabre pastimes with human body parts…these aren’t Hollywood films. It really happened here, not far from our seemingly normal and carefree lives.

This man, who could be any average small town character you’ve ever encountered, was digging up the freshly buried bodies of other people’s loved ones, dismembering them, and fashioning furniture, clothing and home decor from their remains.

For me, visiting Plainfield is not about some misguided obsession with serial killers. It is a need to remember that this boogeyman was real, to touch the ground he walked on, to feel what desperate loneliness and isolation can do to the fragile human psyche.

Stepping foot in his story is walking on dangerous ground. This is where we could all go a little mad.

The place where Ed Gein’s house once stood still feels as lonely and desolate as it was for him following the death of his mother in 1945.

Also, the introvert in me is completely capable of romanticizing the thought of being holed up in a dilapidated farmhouse in the dead of Wisconsin winter, reading strange books and playing with skulls.

So…we turned the volume up on a specially prepared CD of 1970s devil music (I don’t know why that seemed like a good idea…I guess I had Mac Sabbath stuck in my head) and departed for a day of obscure Wisconsin weirdness.

Worden’s Hardware

Our first stop is always the hardware store. After all these years, it’s still a hardware store. It was Clark’s True Value the last couple of trips, but it recently changed hands and is now Plainfield Hardware Hank. A sign on the sidewalk was advertising an antifreeze sale. Seriously.

Antifreeze sale at the Plainfield hardware store.

After exploring the crumbling Woodman Opera House nearby, I had just started shooting some video when a woman came out of the store and began walking toward us. It is no secret that Plainfield residents prefer not to talk about the tragic events of their town’s past. Ed Gein babysat them as children, brought over offerings of venison despite the fact that he never hunted deer, desecrated the remains of their friends and family.

It’s a touchy subject to be sure. And to add insult to injury, news reporters, film crews, journalists and people like myself have been descending upon their small town in droves ever since the body of hardware store owner Bernice Worden was found gutted and hanging upside down inside Gein’s personal house of horrors in 1957.

The back of the historic Woodman Opera House in Plainfield, built in 1902.

My goal is only ever to document, though trespassing, theft and destruction of property are without a doubt quite common. Ed’s headstone is now permanently kept in storage after years of graffiti, not to mention that it was stolen in 2000 and recovered in Seattle. A corner of Ed’s mother Augusta’s headstone is missing, chipped away piece by piece over the years.

So naturally, I got a bit nervous when this woman from the hardware store approached us.

But rather than call the police, threaten bodily dismemberment, etc., she asked why we were so interested in the building. She said that, since she and her husband had purchased the business in April, upwards of 50 people had stopped to take photos. They even had one visitor enter the store and ask if he could use their computer to research the history of the building.

She didn’t know why. She was from out of town…and had never heard of Ed Gein.

I can’t imagine buying one of the most infamous crime scenes in American history…without a clue as to what atrocities were committed there. While some of the older locals liked to come in and chat about such mundane details as changes to the exterior of the building, she said, none mentioned the murder.

So we brought her up to speed, and she graciously allowed us to explore the store. I think it’s safe to say, however, that she won’t feel comfortable there by herself ever again.

Plainfield Cemetery

The graves of Ed Gein and his family in the Plainfield Cemetery.

After leaving the hardware store (and neglecting to get that video I needed) we set course for the Plainfield Cemetery, where the Gein family is buried amidst Ed’s victims. Directly in front of his grave is that of Eleanor Adams, whom he exhumed just days after she was buried. Nearby are the Wordens, Bernice and her son Frank, who was a deputy sheriff at the time his mother went missing.

After that we made stops at two more cemeteries (three if you count the one we found when we got lost because of my terrible hand-drawn map), another murder scene, and, of course, the site of the old Gein farm. We managed to find the final graveyard at dusk, then made one last stop back at the Plainfield Cemetery to wish the Geins farewell before heading home.

An abandoned house just down the road from the old Gein property. The architecture is nearly identical to the Gein house that burned down in March of 1958.

After several excursions into the backwoods over the years, we have finally managed to locate each of the stops on the Ed Gein tour. This will probably be the last trip there for a while, unless I miraculously have money for better film equipment one day, or invent some other excuse to return.

There is nothing Gein-related left unexplored. Right?

Well, there may still be a few mysteries remaining in Plainfield, even after 58 years. But I’ll save that for the next post.

158 Comments

People there are all kinds of sick people in this world do you all agree?? But why is it so important to dwell on one place about one person ?? What about new York ? Or even Japan were they have murders that still today have never been caught with over 30 people they have killed. Or these pedifiles praying on harmless children. What is so special about ed ??. Is it because they made a made up fictional movie about it to make money ?? Wow how glorious it must feel. Just saying. Think of something new and move on in life cause its to short to be waisted. Thanks peeps

Ed Gein is certainly a character unlike any other. The fantasists who imagine him in his darkened and dank “house of horrors” ( myself included), who think he’s a “legend”. Need to consider the actual reality of eviscerating a dead woman’s vagina, salting it, and keeping it in a box. Think about that for a minute.. A cold Wisconsin night. An early stage purifying cadaver..
A hunting knife and a hell bent intent…
Not the domain of the “normal” well adjusted person.. Ed was no doubt a troubled soul.. His victims did nothing to deserve their ignominious ends…
The whole saga is sad. Disturbed. And Plainfield is forever cast under Eds swaying shadow.. Remember the history. Respect the locals. And remember, folks like Ed still walk our streets…

In fact, I have a friend like him…youngest in the family. His Mom is strict while his dad left them and he has a very unfriendly brother I consider Edward Gein as a friend than a monster…I mean he deserves so much better

Hello Max.
I totally agree with you
1957 was definitely the year ( so to speak )
57 Chevy , Apple Pie with cheese and Milwaukee winning world series.
I’m betting Gein would have liked a friend as yourself .

For those of you who see Ed Gein as only a monster, I recommend you seriously stop thinking that way. He was much more than just a killer and a body snatcher. I have studied serial killers and I know what type of people they are. They are not monsters. They are human beings who never got the right love in their life or have severe mental issues. And I know that this man meaning Ed is much more than just “the guy who kills and snatches graves”. He babysat. He worked hard. He nurtured children. And nobody seems to remember all the good he did to the community of Plainfield. And also, the crimes he committed just show that he was not in the right frame mind and needed help, love, and a friend who could understand him. To commit the crimes he committed one has to be severely mentally unstable. He obviously had paranoia, and there was a deep pain inside of him. And he was NOT a monster. He was a tortured human being and so was his mother who also needed help. Neither of them were monsters or evil creatures. In my mind there is no evil. We are all human beings. And Ed was a human being too and you guys should see him that way. All of you. Instead of seeing Ed Gein as a monster and seeing Plainfield as “the home of a monster”, use this experience as a lesson for society to help these disturbed serial killers find happiness in the future.

And also for those of you who live here, accept him as a part of your community and realize that he was not a monster. Once you see him as a human being, that view in itself will really help you guys become happy again. And remember, he did babysit children, and he did work really hard and did so many good things. I recommend for you guys that whenever you think about him, try to remember the good things he did to your community and learn to forgive him. Because forgiveness is always the answer in the end. And once you try to understand where he might have been coming from and think about what may have got him to committing those crimes, and look at the situation more closely, then I am almost certain that that in itself will help you be able to treat other mentally and emotionally disturbed people like him that might come to your community before they might have a chance to become serial killers. And even if they did already kill, forgiveness always comes first. Because in the end, we are all human beings, and all make mistakes. And no matter how horrible a crime might seem, just remember that the killers are human too, and are just very confused and disturbed and need your love and help and friendship. That’s all…

You’re right… I just read about him. I completely agree. He was just a sick and lonely man who needed a friend. Not a monster. Just because people do things, they do not show the people are on the inside. On the inside he was just a very scared, lonely, sick man who wanted love. Apparently he didn’t even know what he did was wrong. I completely agree with you. Poor Ed 🙁 RIP to him and he victims.

Yes exactly… It’s so sad 🙁 and the worst of it is that people today are still seeing him as a monster instead of trying to understand where he was coming from and everything he had to go through. I hope one day the world will change and people will at least try to understand him more.

He was a One-Man Slaughtering Machine. If he’d have opened his FUCKING MOUTH, someone would have helped him. A perpetrator like this needs Trillions more help than crying on your fucking Cardigan or being told everything will be okay. Wtf is wrong with idiotic women like you? Good riddance to that MANIAC

Mileena

April 13, 2018 at 3:17 pm

Wtf is that about? I mean, everybody has a story. Everybody has tragic events in their lives and it’s obvious. I’m not trying to undermine mental issues by no means, but try to explain that he’s not a monster to the victims’ family members. If every sad person killed human beings then we would’ve no criminals at all according to you Although we may understand his sadness, we can’t accept his deeds which were indicating the fact of him being a monster. He was indeed emotionally handicapped, heavily disordered and needed help but we can’t ‘pat’ him and say ‘it’s okay dude, go and kill’em, you have mental issues’. What you say is a utopian vision created without empathy towards his victims’ families and traumatized society of Plainfield. Also, if you studied serial killers, you should know about their view of emotions as well 🙂 They don’t perceive emotions as something valuable and have different understanding of pain than usual people. That’s why they’re called sociopaths.

Melrose

October 4, 2018 at 1:27 pm

You’re not freaking serious, are you? I agree after reading the man was disturbed but don’t make him out as a pinnacle in society, or that he did so much for the town. Cripes! This is disturbing.

Eggbert

August 12, 2016 at 4:10 pm

Just talked to bernice wordens great niece and she hates the great ed gein.i mean,yes, ed shot her in the head,and yes,ed hung het up and gutted her like a deer putting her guts in a bucket for later use.i mean how long is she going to carry a GRUDGE for a simple slip up that could happen to ANYONE!!
Its time to forgive and FOCUS on the greatness that is ED GEIN!!!

I COMPLETELY AGREE!!!!! THE REASON PEOPLE DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT ED IN PLAINFIELD IS BECAUSE THEY SEE HIM AS A MONSTER. BUT HE’S NOT!!! NOBODY IS A MONSTER NOT EVEN HITLER. EVEN HITLER WAS A HUMAN BEING WHO JUST NEEDED HELP AND WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT MIND. I COULD SEE PAIN IN HITLER’S EYES AND I CAN SEE THE SAME PAIN IN ED’S AND ALL OTHER SERIAL KILLERS. ED GEIN JUST NEEDED SOMEONE TO TURN TO AND A SHOULDER TO CRY ON. DID IT EVER ACCUR TO ANYONE THAT HE WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC???? THAT CAN BE A VERY PAINFUL MENTAL CONDITION THAT CAN GET PEOPLE IN THE WRONG AND DISTURBED MINDSET!!! I HAVE HALLUCINATED TOO SEVERAL TIMES (LIKE HIM) SO I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE!! ITS PAINFUL AND HE WAS IN PAIN. HE JUST NEEDED LOVE THATS IT. HE WAS NO MONSTER. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING FANTASIA IS SAYING!

IN REGARDS TO THE FRIKN IDIOT . THIS PAIN YOU SEEN IN HITLER’S EYES (‘ DID YOU SEE THIS PAIN IN HIS EYE’S BEFORE OR AFTER HE EXTERMINATED 9.9 MILLION PEOPLE ) AS FOR THESE MONSTERS YOU CALL PEOPLE ( ALL THEY NEEDED WAS A FRIEND YOU SAY ) HAHAHA……. THESE MONSTERS ( GEIN , GACY , HITLER , DAHMER , FISH , BUNDY , MANSON) AS FRIENDS THEY WOULD HAVE CUT YOUR TONGUE OUT AND BU***** FCKD YOU IN THE *°SS….. DINNER IS SERVED

Lmao people need to get it through their skulls that just because they’ve killed people doesn’t mean they kill everyone they fucking meet.. As much as you’d hate to admit it or acknowledge it they’re human beings and they are actually capable of rational thought. Jesus.

Thanks Abby! very well said. That’s also what I am trying to say 🙂 people need to acknowledge that we are all human beings and what makes people kill is that they are at disturbed mind, and they are NOT monsters. And we are all human!

Michael

June 5, 2016 at 10:22 pm

WRONG THERE SERIAL KILLERS VOID OF ANY RATIONAL THOUGHT. LAUGH LMFAO WHEN YOU PEOPLE STATE ( ALL THEY NEED IS A SHOULDER TO CRY ON ETC. WTF) SO AS A FRIEND OF ED GEINS WHEN WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED HIM TO CRY ON YOUR SHOULDERS BEFORE OR AFTER OR DURING HIM WEARING VEST MADE FROM HUMAN SKIN WITH NIPPS ATTACHED OR PERHAPS ED WE NEED TO TALK , OK HE SAYS COME INTO MY KITCHEN EXCUSE THE SKULL BOWL OR THE DIRTY DISHES , PLEASE SIT DOWN IN THIS COMFORTABLE CHAIR I JUST RE HOPOSTERED IN FRESH SKIN I DUG UP FROM GRAVE YARD…… FRANKENSTEIN WAS A MONSTER , DRACULA WAS A MONSTER , ED GEIN MONSTER AS WELL. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MONSTERS LIVE RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSES , THAT’S WHY THERE ABLE TO AVOID CAPTURE FOR SO LONG. BTK WAS ABLE TO AVOID CAPTURE FOR 40 YEARS… THEY ARE PEOPLE , YES . BUT MONSTERS INDEED. SAYING GOES LOOK AT THE KILLER INSIDE ME…..

Michael

June 5, 2016 at 11:02 pm

HMMM , PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE HMMM , THEN MOST PEOPLE AGREE THE DEVIL WAS ONCE AN ANGEL TOSSED OUT OF HEAVEN….EVIL IS EVIL , AND NO AMOUNT OF TALKING OR CRYING ON ONES SHOULDER IS GONNA CHANGE THE FACT YES HUMAN FIRST , BUT TURNED MONSTER. EVIL HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MAN . MAN IN FACT IS THE MOST UNCONTROLLED EVIL YOU CAN FIND. YES EDWARD GEIN IS THE BABE RUTH ( SO TO SPEAK ) OF PSYCHOLOGY , AND 1957 PLAINFIELD WISCONSIN WAS HIS PLAYING FIELD. IVE STUDIED EVERY DETAIL OF GEIN CASE AND HAVE SPENT MORE TIME ON ED GEIN CASE THEN MOST OF YOU WILL EVER KNOW…..ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK.

@michael he is a human being, who knows what could happen if you just showed some consideration for them, just like @levya said for a person to do these types of things they have to be mentally ill or have gone through some sort of trauma or something. I kind of believe in the evil in the world tho and everything. I’m not sure. But I still feel that kindness could do a lot for people like them. In the end everyone could use a friend you know..

Michael

September 18, 2016 at 10:41 pm

No actually Abby there not capable of rational thought. Why you ask.? There killers … think about what serial killer is capable of rational thought. Rational thought is should I have corn flakes or cheerio for breakfast .? These people were deciding should I eat the @°ss first or perhaps leg.? Serial killers use people as a HI!!!! Or a fix , basically …….. Yes Gein as well

serialkillerfan

June 6, 2016 at 1:49 am

They are not Monsters, you fcking weird idiot! Go talk to others with your shit!! Maybe they really needed only a good friend who helps them and so, how do you know it all? You do not know all these people! You only know what others have reported about these people in the newspapers, internet or wherever but do you also know how the childhood looked? How hard the life of Ed Gein for example was? No one becomes born as a killer! Have compassion for those and discriminates against none of these people for what they have done, everyone makes mistakes but that’s no reason to hate them like the plague!

Wherever the fuck it was reported these mfs are tearing ppl apart like fucking animals. Since you say they weren’t thinking rationally… how do you feel it’s ok for others to feel safe around a fucking serial killer that kills spontaneously…ir was it methodically? Point is, there was nothing that could his Socially inept/retarded ass people. He wasn’t some textbook case where ‘Talking ‘ could fix it. My Great Grandmother Daisy dated the faggot so knows a bit, not much. Says he was quiet & withdrawn but could talk your ear off wgwn he was working ‘Around’ something which is basically lying. Michael have you met her? Along your Travels? He was a Distressed yet Manipulative and Spoiled little asshole! There was no reason to feed those kids other dead ppl! What in your head says it is is something new. How do you think the PEOPLE of this very small town felt? He was feeding PEOPLE to them & their kids KNOWING he’d just slaughtered someone. And the Town is @ fault for KNOWING he didn’t hunt (animals at least) & accepting the strange, rubbery, hard to digest meat. But yes, gtfoh with that Sad Depressed shit. And my apologies, you Dead Ed Gein dock riders are correct, he isn’t a monster. To get away with these crimes for soooo damn long~exquisite hey? To kill inhumanely and so angrily….bloody….with no one in a town of 800 not suspecting Uhhhh….yeah.

Michael

October 3, 2016 at 11:37 pm

This is in response to Desiree. The only person I know Ed Gein supposedly dated was I believe lady named Adeline Watkins ( perhaps your great grandma daisy is this same person.? ). Another lady Ed Gein had supposedly asked out for a date was lady by name of Audrey Wilson ( she turned him down )…

Melly

June 29, 2016 at 7:58 am

THANK YOU, Michael!! Well said … I was listening till the Hitler comment then i got Pissed .. That piece of Shit was Evil Incarnate.. Horrific events and mass Murderer .. I believe in Ed Geins Case there probably were folks who felt he could use a friend and tried to reach out to this tormented Man

Hello Edward Gein fans. I need your feedback , is there any interest in joining an Ed Gein photo of the month club.? Photos would be sent with text , right to your mobile phone.

music_awesome_396

June 5, 2016 at 5:37 pm

Well said Leyva!! I completely agree! Don’t pay attention to those idiots who think you’re crazy. They don’t understand. And It is very sad. these people like Ed just need help… I don’t get why people don’t understand that.

In regards to Abby. Abby first you have to understand once someone commits 1 murder there considered a murderer 2 murders in a little time span there now considered serial killers. Ed Gein unfortunately was a murderer and a serial killer in every way shape or form . No amount of help or talking could OR would CHANGE his frame of mind . I BRING CLASSIC CASE OF EDWARD KEMPER UP TO BAT. KEMPER KILLED HIS TWO GRANDPARENTS WITH SHOTGUN WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. INSTITUTIONALIZED TILL HE WAS OF AGE TO BE SET FREE. NOW HAVING BEEN CHANGED AND TALKING TO PROFESSIONALS DURING HIS ADOLESCENT YEAR’S HE WAS SET FREE. ONLY TO REALIZE THE MAN SET OUT ON A WOMAN HUNT AND KILLED COUNTLESS OF HITCHHIKERS AS WELL AS DECAPITATED HIS MOTHER ETC ETC. HE BECAME KNOWN AS THE COED KILLER. ( ,GOOGLE EDWARD KEMPER ) ANYWAYS THESE PEOPLE CAN NOT BE CHANGED. EDWARD GEIN WAS LOCKED UP AT A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TILL HIS DEATH IN 1984. ( I HAVE ACTUAL TYPE 1 PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIM DURING HIS TIME THERE ) DEFINITELY THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BLAST TO HAVE HAD A BEER OR TWO OR THREE WITH GEIN , BUT IN THE END .!!!!!! UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE ARE ANIMALS , SO TO SPEAK.

No you Nimrods need the help. If we continue to look the other way when these Murderers get busy…dude, this mf literally crafting shit out of skin….teally? Wearing clothes and feeding those ppl kids Dead ppl oh hell no! He knew what he was doing each time he fed it to them. Or did he do it methdically on auto pilot after spacing out lmmfa-tf-off

Lmfao you guys make. Me laugh Michael abbey you both made my day koodoos to you both.oh by the way people they are right cause I had two in my family and I can tell you all THANK GOD THEY ARE DEAD I was just a kid at the time but now as a grown man if they were still alive I would be hunting them both down myself.

Eggbert

August 12, 2016 at 4:17 pm

Actually ed had several shoulders to cry on.he kept them in the barn freezer.

Tbh you sound more crazy than anyone else right now. Calling people names and idiots. You’re the one who’s actually crazy. That’s not even “Fantasia”‘s point. She is saying that there are things that create people to kill. She is not condoning anything. Of course what he did was really disturbing and sad but that doesn’t mean he’s a monster, I mean he breathes air. He has a beating heart. I also studied this guy too for pete’s sake and I can’t help but agree with her. I mean yes what she says can be a little difficult to understand at times but I get where she’s coming from. People like you just need to get a life and stop spending your time harassing people simply for their opinion. Just because someone wants to understand killers doesn’t mean they are going to go on a friggin killing spree.

Thanks for understanding. And yes, maybe my comment wasn’t clear. I never said I condone what he did in any way. Of course it was horrible, I am just saying that I can understand where he’s coming from. And for those of you out there who think I’m a psycho just because I disagree with you, I’m sorry man, but you just have to deal with it. But that’s not going to change or affect how I feel.

Melrose

October 4, 2018 at 1:30 pm

Yes, we understand that he truly was not a true “monster”. Signed Mr. Literal.

TRUE!!!! Serial killers are human beings feelings!!!! WE MUST EMBRACE THEM AND THROW AWAY THE HATE!!
Thats their problem RAISED WITH HATE!!
Bernices family set ed back YEARS with HATE!!!
Ed Gein had a different lifestyle IS THAT A REASON FOR MORE HATE??
we must cherish the memory of ed gein as he will feel our love wherever he is and be HEALED!!!

Even though Ed may have needed a shoulder to cry on or whatever, he was still human. Humans make their own choices. Sane or insane. I have been through some horrifying events in my life, but I still make the choice everyday not to kill people or do irrelevant things. I believe that Ed knew exactly what he was doing, he didn’t just wake up one day and suddenly have a desire to kill random people. He had to plan these events ahead of time and so many factors were involved with each abduction such as when to grab the women, where, how to get them back to his house without anyone seeing or knowing, the best way to get their skin off. Ed was not right in the head, but that was no excuse for what he did. Help is always available to those who need it. I’m not here to argue or put anyone down, but the thing that most people focus on is Ed Gein and how it wasn’t his fault and how he was just crazy and didn’t have anyone there for him, but he caused the families of his victims to have to live with the burden of knowing their loved ones was not just taken from them and killed, but also treated them like they were nothing. The only thing I can hear when I read these articles is the pain and screaming of his victims. Individuals who had plans with their life’s and could’ve changed the world, but were cut short of their Life’s by Ed. In summary Ed may have had a hard life, but in the end Ed chose who he wanted to be and what legacy he wanted to leave behind.

He is/was a MONSTER!! Hitler also! Whichever vouce was telling then whatever, they had a CHOICE! He (Ed) babysat but what does that mean? He was a fucking SOCIOPATH, Fool!! Wake up ppl lol. My goodness. Loneliness,Sadness, do you HEAR yourself? GTFOH! Guess your ignorant ass would’ve stood first in line for a chance to Baby-fy that callous, hateful, unfeeling Psycho hey?

I love this honest, fa tual, srnsible response 🙂 Ed may have been hurt @ the No Father, No Mother cpncept ( After she died) but one thing he Has conveyed through the killings the is that he wanted the victims to save th

You sound like you not only are thinking of doing the same things, as if his behavior & feelings JUSTIFY MURDER; violent, truly malevolent, hateful, thorough & well thought out (not to mention skillfully staying under the radar) premeditated hateful MURDER!! He deserved to be fed (ALIVE) to voracious wild boars!! Manipulative, Conniving, Evil son of a Bitch! Partially some of your town folk are @ fault for letting him be buried among those he’s slain countless times, all the while remaining emotionless. Gutting Humans doesn’t sound like he was guilt ridden & remorseful. More like Vengeful,Determined, and Intelligent.

Well said! It is scary to think anyone can feel sorry for him. Sorry for what happened to him maybe, but it should be utter disgust and distaste for what he did. Your description of him is 100%, and these idiotic bleeding hearts on here should spare a thought for his victims.

You sound like such a fucking Dolt. Ppl also develop: Imaginary friends, Take up A Sport, Hobby, or Craft in his time free time instead he chose to Kill ppl unrelentlessly. To play Psychologist also even if he was suffering from PTSD ~killing ppl cause your life sucked is mentally retarded in my opinion

“You sound like such a fucking dolt” like wtf??? I know you obviously disagree with her but why tf do you need to say that? All she’s doing is expressing her opinion. ITS A FREE COUNTRY, FOLKS we all have the right to express our opinion as long as we don’t threaten each other which she’s obviously not doing because all she’s saying is how she feels. Like wtf is wrong with that? I’m sorry dudes, but tbh you guys are sounding crazy already when you get so hysterical just about someone’s freakin opinion I mean come on I know it was obviously horrible for the victims too but that does not mean people cannot express their opinion.

I agree. I mean what he did was very tragic yet also what happened to him and his childhood was completely devastating. He really needed help and yes I think a friend too. & for you bullies out there who think this girl is a psycho just because she sees Ed as a human is fcked up. Because what she says is the truth you can’t deny that. HE IS STILL A HUMAN BEING FOR PETE’S SAKE So why don’t you just stop harassing this girl and speak simply speak your opinion without saying all this shit to her

Yes thank you I agree and yes I wasn’t “baby-fying” him in any way so yeah that’s completely crazy to say that when all I was saying was that he needed a friend. And just because I feel bad for him does not mean I am going to go on a killing spree. That is the most absurd deranged thing I have ever heard in my life. People should get it in their thick heads that all I want to do is HELP killers get into a better place by becoming their friend and helping them. Kind of like therapy. Because I want to have a voice for this kind of stuff. I am not justifying murder in any way and if that’s what people think when all I say is that I want to help him and be there for him as a friend so he can talk to someone is completely absurd. I am actually doing the opposite of justifying murder. If he would’ve had a friend meaning a close friend to talk to about these things, he wouldn’t have killed. He was a very confused mental person and needed help and didn’t get it soon enough. Yes not all mental people become killers of course I know that I am not stupid. But sometimes they’re mental disorder leads them to this point and you can’t deny that. And with Ed I think it was both emotional issues and mental. That is extremely difficult for someone to bare and he didn’t even seem to realize that killing was wrong because he was isolated with a mother who was mental and he probably learned some of his behavior from her. So all I want to do is understand and help killers become better and happier people so they don’t have horrible urges to kill. And I know it takes time but I believe in it and there should be nothing wrong with that. And I don’t justify murder whoever said that is crazy. Thanks Marzia for confirming that. My English can be bad sometimes haha but thanks so much.

And by the way for those of you who didn’t understand “a shoulder to cry on” is just an expression that I use and the same with my friend. But yes maybe he did need to release emotions I think that is important. But what I meant by that term is just referring to that he needed a friend. That’s what it actually means.

Actually, it was me who said the shoulder to cry on expression lol. But yes you are right that was what I meant when I said that. But yes in response to what Miguel said that is so true. I do hallucinate but it is not as bad as Ed. He believed his hallucinations and I knew that they were fake. That is why he killed. The voices were telling him to and I know that because I have studied schizophrenia and most likely experienced some of it. That’s the difference so those of you who think that I’m going on a killing spree or whatever that’s a bunch of bullshit

Lisa

January 15, 2017 at 4:18 pm

Funny all these Ed Fein wannabe buddies. What if he ate your young daughter? Doubt you’d be so empathetic then.

Whoa, so everyone who is lonely or had a tough life may just do as they please?! You wouldn’t feel that way if it had been you he chose to kill and desecrate for his own gratification. Not to mention the bodies he stole from graves. Remember the family and friends who then had to deal with it. Ed Gein, a true depraved monster pretending to be a part of humanity, deserves nothing but disgust.

Ed Gein’s body is not actually at the Plainfield cemetery. It was moved secretly to a cemetery in a neighboring town to prevent the body from being dug up by those trying to get revenge or just curious. My grandpa was part of the group that had to move him. Interesting stuff.

Pute ignorance to bury him amongst so many hurting victims anyhow. Nobody wants to remember the Hell he rose. He went BEYOND even trying to heal his pain by way of transferring it. Violence may have made him geel stronger…and since hes such a “Victim” I guess it was ok to do ALL those undeserving, unsuspecting plain hpmevodies like that, ijs

Hello Alisha. The way Edward Gein was brought up , made him who he was. That goes to show you , by not having friends , by not venturing outside of the safe haven his mother had created. Also by not having girlfriend’s growing up as a child. I believe he wanted companionship , and it was easier to do what he did , then actually venture into adulthood without proper guidance. He more then likely was a child in a man’s body , and definitely wanted to have or feel a women’s touch . Basically I believe when his mother passed it allowed him freedom.

I completely Agree with the Statement ” a Child in a mans Body ” his Mothers upbringing and distorted religiious beliefs, punishing him if he tried to make friends literally Cracked his psyche at a young age .. What was left was a tormented soul ..

Its obvious how he became like that. His mother screwed him up. The misuse of the Bible, not understand the Old testament and the derogatory statements and her projection of women psychologically ruined him. Its sad all round.

All great men initially are considered weirdos.
Ed Gein did things HIS WAY!!
Lived life HIS WAY!!
Chased his hobbies HIS WAY!!
Had relationships with women HIS WAY!!
Decorated and crafted artistic items for the house HIS WAY!!
Designed exotic clothing. HIS WAY!!
A truly great artist and craftsman!!

People complaining about the author visiting the town Ed Gein lived in surely must know that the movie Psycho and the song “Skinned” by Blind Melon are both based on the story of Ed. Its not going away. Sorry it happened in your village, sorry it happened at all, but it did and its part of your history. Hiding it, being ashamed of it, or badmouthing those who have an interest isn’t going to do anything but have a bad effect on you. It happened, it was horrible and people are not going to forget it ever. It seems to me that acting in a fearful, suspicious and self victimizing way does nothing for the appearance of your town, it only makes people wonder if you’re drinking the same tainted water Ed was apparently drinking. I and many others have had loved ones die as a result of someone’s elses mental illness. But we don’t hide it, live in fear of it or worst of all, allow ourselves to be victims of it. You are NOT the victims. Chill.

I enjoyed reading this blog post. My dad grew up in Plainfield and used to tell us kids how he sat on Ed Gein’s lap. He also said Ed seemed fairly normal, at least enough that people wouldn’t have guessed the truth.

For those who insist Plainfield isn’t a poor town, well, it really IS a poor town and it’s just a fairly typical small Wisconsin town. I don’t see how that’s anything to be defensive about or ashamed of. I’ve lived in central Wisconsin my entire life, and it’s only been in recent years that I’ve started traveling to other areas of the United States. People here are, in general, reserved…. much less friendly than in the South. So just keep that in mind when reading comments here or if you decide to actually give us a visit. 😉

Awww thats so sweet your dad sat on his lap. To be honest, I really think all he needed was love in the end. He was obviously very sick and very lonely. Both him and his mother obviously had some type of paranoia. I’ve studied him very deeply, and can relate to him in so many ways. I really wish he could’ve gotten help sooner. He just needed a friend in the end and someone he can turn to. It’s a very, very deep story. And there is so much I also want to say about him, but for now I just want to ask you what your dad said he was like cuz I really want to learn more about him. Did your dad ever tell you what he was like when he babysat your dad?

Ed babysat my grandma and my great aunt too when they were small. From what I was told he was good with kids but they just weren’t allowed in the house. I understand how families can be touchy but if it brings you that much pain to be there, maybe you should consider moving or learn to ignore them. Hate to say it, but chances are, they’re not going anytime soon. Too many movies, books, etc have been based on Ed’s story. It makes me wonder ,though, if people would be so bitter if they’d seen him as more than “Odd Ed”. If they’d had a glimpse of his tortured mind, and how he obviously hid it from everyone.

Awww thats so sweet your dad sat on his lap. To be honest, I really think all he needed was love in the end. He was obviously very sick and very lonely. Both him and his mother obviously had some type of paranoia. I’ve studied him very deeply, and can relate to him in so many ways. I really wish he could’ve gotten help sooner. He just needed a friend in the end and someone he can turn to. It’s a very, very deep story. And there is so much I also want to say about him, but for now I just want to ask you what your dad said he was like cuz I really want to learn more about him. Did your dad ever tell you what he was like when he babysat your dad?

>>”There can’t be anything left to discover after all these years.”<<
There absolutely are facts about the case that have still not been made public, very significant facts that will change the way the story is viewed. Even facts that would provide closure to affected families. I understand -for those whom have a link to the victims- there may still be a degree of sensitivity, but this is not so much about Plainfield as it is about the Degeneration of the Mind. Done with decency, there is an opportunity to learn AND pay respect here. Because it will NOT fade away to nothingness… but perhaps Full Disclosure will allow the topic to at least… settle.

Seriously you ask someone to take pictures of the Edward Gein farmhouse off this site. ?I’m Jewish , that’s like me asking Germany to erase what was done during WW2…. Guess what not gonna happen. People that forget the past are condemned to repeat it…..I totally understand the people of Plainfield Wisconsin being sick and disgusted with what Edward had done , digging up the graves of family and murder of the two lady’s. I recently called Washaura county court house , looking for information and an older gentleman actually hung up on me asking for information on 2nd and Archer. Washaura Historical society different story , they were extremely helpful and pleasure to speak with. People must figure the man being Gein was raised to be God fearing , and people were evil to his mother’s believe. Ed all alone with mother taking care of her every need , Ed this Ed that , Edward I’m hungry , Ed turn the lights off etc etc….. His mother passes. Ed Gein had absolutely nobody left. He then robs graves to build friends , and after while gets tired of playing with Dead things…I’ve spent many many many late nights studying Edward Geins life , trying to piece together what happened.. Fact or Fiction. It happened , and what an absolute story it makes . The Real Deal it is… From H.H Holmes and John Wayne Gacy in Chicago , to Gein and Dahmer in Wisconsin , bad people exist. By studying them perhaps we can actually stop them .

I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for those of you whose lives were affected by Gein’s actions. To be honest, that is a big part of why I visit – to understand and gain perspective. This isn’t fiction – these things really happened, these people actually existed.

I’ve made several trips to Plainfield. When I’m there, I don’t go knocking on doors, harassing people, breaking things, stealing or trespassing. Nor am I “sneaking” around. I’m just taking photos, making observations. I did not, at any point in my writing above, express any ill will toward the residents of Plainfield. Rather, I was hoping to convey sympathy for your plight. But this piece wasn’t written for you, it was written for others like myself who may have grown up with this nightmarish story, who may have boogeymen of their own to exorcise.

Still, some of you felt the need to flood the comments with hatred, anger and threats. For what purpose? To demonstrate how much better you are than “scum” like me?

Also, yes, we left flowers at the graves. For people whose sheltered lives, misguided beliefs and untreated mental illness caused themselves and others great suffering. From my perspective, all lives matter. Even those that went tragically wrong.

Charlie, I think you did a great job with this piece. I, too, am from the area & I do not understand why so many people have their panties in a bunch.
Sadly, Ed Gein DID exist & he DID commit horrible atrocities to the folks in that area. I know the Plainfield people would like to forget about this tragedy, but it is a tragedy, nonetheless. You cannot ignore history & pretend it didn’t happen. I thought you & your friend were very respectful as opposed to others who attempt to desecrate tomb stones & the like.
I find it fascinating that the owner of the shop had no idea who Ed was! However, since Plainfield is incredibly poor & businesses & houses are becoming delapitated, perhaps the residents should embrace the infamy he brought the town, not shun it. Allow people to take photographs & if you’re old enough?n talk about your personal experience. Holding in such things allows this man to “win”. Perhaps speaking out honestly, at least, would have touristy types cease confusing the Hollywood versions with the real ones. There is no need to be rude to the curious..

Charlie, How would you feel if a loved one of yours had been murdered? Would you want continual reminders to be brought up to and relive those feelings and emotions? Think o f the worst thing that has happened to you in your life. Would you want continuing reminders and people poking and asking questions for the rest of your life? The people who experienced the actual events of your so called fascination, would just like to move on and not have these memories, feelings and emotions brought to the surface over and over by others who have no clue or care of how it affects them. Obviously, it is a very tender part of the people lives that experienced the murder. Plainfield is not a community of “snotty bitches” or “poorest, rudest, shittiest town in WI”. The people of Plainfield will stand together and protect one another from the ignorance of those who down play and stir up the traumatic events from the past. The information you seek is already out there. Try reading all the information that is out there to find out what happened, instead of sneaking around to find out information that no longer is applicable to the events. Try using you skills and abilities that will help people. Start looking into unsolved murders and to help people find closure in there lives so they can move on. Show some compassion.

Thankyou Jackie…I could not have said it better! For years after, my father remained proprietor of the hardware store and had to suffer the so called curiosity seekers! I am unable to tell anyone, anywhere where I live……without having unwanted remarks! I will take this thing to the grave…..with many reminders in between now and then. Thank you for your compassion!

@ jquest43 No!!! It should be called the cow manure capital!! We have tons of manure here 🙂 And who the hell is this “Edge in” guy anyway?? Never heard of him dude! And even if he did live here, he’s just an ol’resident. We ain’t namin’ our town after an ol’dude who lived here in the 50s. We name it after what it is: Plain Field. A plain field. Duh. The place is not called Ed Gein. He is not the place. Hahahahaha

Oh my goodness. Stop. You’re all literally feeding yourselves to the wolves for viewers of this. You all seriously need to stop. Shush. Literally mind your own. Both the ones who wrote this little report/documentary and the ones commenting. All ends!!!! All of you. You all sound like children with no tolerance. This should honestly not be on here. I’m Sorry But To The Ones Who made The Trip Out there, you shouldve kept It To yourself. And to the ones from there. Again. Hold your tongue. To the ones commenting to apparently be an outright bitch (the one calling a woman you’ve never met a cunt.) To get whatever built up in directed anger out. Grow up. Control yourself. Leave this story alone. There’s plenty of it all over the internet, books, movies, etc. And before you go yelling at me, my familys cabin is apparently located on the same road of what use to be eds house. Not once in my right mind did I ever have any creepy curiosity to wander up there and take a good look/trespass or wander thru town and ask questions. What the hell is wrong with you people. Crap happens. We all deal with it in our own way. If not we’d all be better off as mindless zombies. Literally. You all need a life. Or get back to whatever the hell it is you’re suppose to be doing while commenting on this like Flippin immature fist waving 6 year olds.

I married into one of the families that ED dug up and took for his amusement. They have never been able to return her to her place of eternal rest….My Mother Beverly who has sense passed 2 yrs ago would tell me all about ED and the stories that has since been told about that Horrific day.One of the arresting officers at the time was a cousin. My mother would go parking out in the cemetery at night. They would see lights out there in the mist of darkness. It was Ed digging up newly buried loved ones. Of cores they didn’t know that at the time. Every state ive lived in the people when asked where I was from always would say” OH that’s the town that ED GEIN is from! Every one knew the story about Ed and his victims.. Not too long after ED died I was out to the cemetery to show a cousin where Ed was suppose to be buried… She was from the state of Washington where I also was from. I walked up to the grave site and there was this Album laying on his head stone.. I picked it up and it said it was produced by ED GEIN PRODUCTIONS out of Tacoma Washington.. I was very curious as to what the music sounded like so I took it to my moms house in Almond. I put it on the record player and the sound that came from that album was the worst Satanic sound ive ever heard!!!… I could only listen to it for a minuet. We then looked at some old news paper clippings that were saved and mom had around the house. When we left I took that Satanic music and threw it in a ditch on the way home…There was Bats on the cover and other images from the dark side…When I got home I got out of my car and just happened to look at my car grill. There was something hanging out of the grill so I went to look ..It was a dead Bat!!!..What are the odds of finding this in my grill after listening to that dark music? I cringe thinking about it…The beautiful lady was my husbands great grandmother” Mae Everson” who was dug up and taken… The town is still here and so is the beautiful people who make up Plainfield. We will never forget that gruesome day of opening day of gun season, it has been handed down from generation to generation. We chose to move on and to be proud of where we live. We love each other and do what we need to do to help each other.. Plainfield is no longer the home place of “ED GEIN”. It is our town and we are taking it back!

Very well said Tina.. any of us from Plainfield know you are exactly right.. people just get sick of it always being negative and as long as people continue to bring him up whenever plainfield is mentioned it will constantly make this town look bad which so many here have tried to change.. how about showing respect to the victims instead of the monster that lived here… putting flowers on his and his mother’s graves instead of the innocent victims that still have families here today is down right sick and completely not right…

WELL JQUEST43. IF YOU PUT IT TOGETHER BY TIME FRAME BERNICE WORDENS INNARDS WERE FOUND IN THE BUCKET( SO TO SPEAK) SHE WAS FOUND HANGING FROM PULLEY IN SUMMER KITCHEN ALMOST LIKE A SHED JUST OUT SIDE THE INNER ACTUAL FARMHOUSE DECAPITATED DRESSED LIKE A DEER. IM ASSUMING THE VEST ED GEIN ASSEMBLED WAS ACTUALLY MARY HOGAN ( THE LADY THAT OWNED THE BAR ) FIGURE SHE DISAPPEARED IN 1954 , AND WITH REGAMORTES SETTING IN. THE SKULL BOWLS IS ACTUALLY ANY BODY’S GUESS. I KNOW HIS FAVORITE FOOD WAS ACTUALLY BEAN SOUP AND LOVED CORN FLAKES. ALSO LOVED TOY WOOD AIRPLANES , AND OLD CHEWING GUM. H

Get over it. Much worse has been done in other towns and their citizens don’t act like snotty bitches. That is the poorest, rudest, shittiest town in WI. The man had a serious mental disorder and probably didn’t know better. You all do. You don’t see the city of Milwaukee acting this way after Dinner, or Chicago after Gacy. Maybe you all being so secretive is adding to the hype. It’s never going to end, so get used to it.

For being the poorest and shittiest town in WI you need to get some facts right. It sounds to me like you don’t know anything. Plainfield has several businesses that gross well over a million dollars a year. So that shoots down your poor comment. Secondly the towns people aren’t snotty bitches. They are protecting their friends and family. Such a small town is very close to one another and there are living relatives of the Warden family still there. How would you like it if I asked you to tell me all the gruesome details of how someone you knew was murdered every year and then wanted you to show me around all the places where it happened? Think about it before you make ridiculous comments and decide to post something so stupid. P.S. I like how you think comparing cities of millions of people to a town of 862 somehow makes a statement.

I grew up in Plainfield. I wouldn’t change that for anything. You have no clue what you’re talking about. Most of the residence of Plainfield feel like family towards their neighbors. Little has changed since I was born in 1970 and when I go HOME I am the most thankful for that fact.

As a resident minutes away from Plainfield Wisconsin, I can honestly say this shouldn’t be such a big deal. If Dracula, who is also a real piece of history, can be on a cereal box year round with no complaints I don’t see why Ed gein and questions about what he did has to be an issue. It’s an amazing piece of history in the fact that he was trusted in the community and babysat and whatnot, yet did what he did behind everyone’s nose. It’s amazing that his mental state was not questioned and he functioned “normally” around the community. I, for one, don’t see the wrong in it being thought about and talked about, when much worse has taken place during wars that are spoken about daily in all schools. Get your heads out of your asses and realize it is what it is, but you all complaining probably boycott Halloween due to your religion as well.

I say pack up the Badger Bus and make a day of it. Field Trip…..and while we are at it lets not forget to stop at Mendota Mental Health Institute where Gein actually spent his final years and died in Madison, WI.

Bad things happened, people are intrigued not a resident only been through stopping for gas. But seriously people relax every body is way too uptight if you don’t like people snooping and digging up the past MOVE. It’s that simple

You’re an idiot. Plainfield is a close knit community not unlike any other small town in Wisconsin. What are we supposed to have on sale at the hardware store fucking cupcakes? There are presently way more valuable things that you can do with your time than spend it honoring a murderer Who had serious psychological problems. Shame on you. You left flowers to honor what? Wish you well? Sorry you can’t be here? I’ve grown and lived in Plainfield my entire life. And if i see somebody trying to rekindle those atrocities it would take a lot for me to resist the urge to beat them in the face with their own camera.

Take a deep breath Mike. I know it is best forgotten but that ship has sailed. At least we don’t have a museum. We made sure that wouldn’t happen. P. S. thanks for the venison and trout last time I saw you. I truly enjoyed it.

I find it interesting that you felt the need to leave flowers there!!! I don’t suppose it occurred to you that Bernice Worden and others should be the ones honored with flowers! You and people like you are a sick, despicable bunch of scum!!! The poor lady at the hardware story was probably horrified!! I was told that you were in town and thankfully warned so I wouldn’t run you over!!! STAY AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE!!!!

I kinda was thinking the same thing about the flowers however the name of their site, blog or whatever it is is cult of weird. I am not a Plainfield resident but I totally agree with the idea of let enough be enough. I honestly only read this because I was interested in what someone that write for Cult of Weird would have to say. It is all in bad taste.

Seriously, SETTLE DOWN. People are interested in things that are dark and scary. There’s a lot of history there regardless of whether you like it or not, people are going to travel to see it. Why do you have to be so mean about it? Nobody is there to hurt you or mock you… why not be welcoming to visitors to help your town thrive? There’s no need to be so rude about it and call people names, and threaten to run people over??? I mean seriously, wow… who’s the scum now? I guess being a murderous asshole must be something in the water in Plainfield.

Because people of Plainfield do not want change. Nor do they accept outsiders. Any new business that has tried to make it in Plainfield always fails. I have seen this with my own eyes over the last 34 years! Every murder victim is a grandparent or some kind of relative to someone. It is sad that it happened. But, it did. Move on with your lives like every other relative of a murder victim. It is not like this happened yesterday. This was almost 60 years ago.

Oh get over it. She died before you were even born. It’s history. You don’t see other victims family members in millions of crimes around the world acting so ignorant as to threaten someone’s life as you just did. That makes you no better than Gein. But his was a mental disorder, you’re just a cunt.

In larger towns it is easier to blend in without much effort. In a small community every thrill seeker is like pouring salt into an open wound over and over again. Please don’t insult the victims family. Please think about the constant pain they feel and glue toy would feel if it was your family.

Did you happen to notice that she is the granddaughter of Bernice Worden??? Show some respect at least. I’m sure if it was your family member you might be a bit touchy too even if it has been 58 years ago.

And I can assure you , she was alive at the time. And if you did make a trip to Plainfield and were greeted with a less then warm welcome I would say the attitude you have displayed on this thread accounts the prickly response.

I dont know exactly who your comment was directed at or who died before the person was born….I was in grade school…also I did not threaten anyone’s life…..your crude remarks…right back at you!!! Uncalled for!!! We would just like to be left alone..but evidently I am not allowed to express my feelings!!!

I can’t believe the new owners were clueless. Why would a hardware store have so many photobugs??. I think it funny that no one in town clued them in after the fact they bought it but not too surprised.

As a child iof those dark, horrible days in the history of Plainfield ~ and now as a mother, grandmother, and friend of so many there ~ I would so like to see yourand all other media and/or history folks close out the saga of Ed Gein. It brought so much sadness to so many. And as long as cruel people like you keep digging it up and making headlines, family, friends and Plainfield will never heal. ~ Please find something positive, loving, and/or happy to do with your energy.

I’m the grand daughter of the couple that where the private investigator lived at while they were waiting to arrest Ed Gein. My mother was just a kid and remembers the investigator staying at my grandparents house in Bancroft WI.

Instead of wanting to ignore these historical stories associated with your home town, or even if you are related to one of the victims. Did you people ever think of setting up a tour for people who are interested in your towns history.?(good and bad) For sure no one should be threatening people over this. Isn’t this what Ed did? Chill – Life is too short for us to treat each other this way. I’m glad the people in the town of Plainfield, WI are close, but don’t feel it would be a terrible thing to reach out to people who are visiting your town. Why do people look for something to complain about? Be glad that anyone is interested in that little town! Really!!!

If all these people are so against thinking about what happened or “reliving” it then WHY ARE YOU ON THE INTERNET READING A POST THAT IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ED GEIN. Y’all get a life. We all know you’re here because you want to get the attention you feel you deserve for going through a traumatic experience. Which is pathetic. If you don’t want to hear about then don’t go clicking links that say they’re about Ed Gein. Logic, people. Charlie, I think y’all did a great job. Keep it up! And if you ever need another area to explore, I think I’ve got one for ya.

Great job Alyssa. Absolutely agree with your comments on Edward Gein and the residents. Actually had a older gentleman from Washaura county court house hang up on me when inquiring about Farmhouse on 2nd and Archer drive. Washaura Historical society people are very helpful and actually like history of what unfolded during , before and after 1957 Plainfield Wisconsin era. Any body want to guess why Ed Gein had actually boarded the room of his mother’s , the parlor , stairs , hallway , living room.?? SHRINE ??? My @SS ,,, Ed was trying to conserve heat , you figure with small room off of kitchen , and wood burning stove , the less area he had to heat the less heat he needed to heat small area up. Anyway , any questions .?